It is no secret that sport fishing in Oregon is in decline.

According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, in 1975, 34.6 percent of the state’s population ages 14 to 69 bought a fishing license. By 2004, that percentage had dwindled to 20.3 percent.

In 2009, nearly 60,000 fewer Oregon residents purchased fishing licenses than in 2001, according to the American Sportfishing Association.

The ODFW staff knows that introducing kids to fishing will help curb that trend. The agency’s annual statewide Free Fishing Weekend — this year set for June 9-10 — is one way the agency hopes to recruit new anglers.

On that Saturday and Sunday, Oregon residents will not need a fishing license, which this year costs $33, to fish anywhere in the state. To help beginner anglers get started, ODFW and a number of partner agencies will offer some 40 free fishing events throughout the state.

Most of the events will include free loaner equipment for novice anglers, special events for children, and numerous volunteers to help.

One such event is set for Caldera Springs resort in Sunriver on June 9 from 9 a.m. to noon. Organized by Sunriver Anglers fishing club, ODFW and the U.S. Forest Service, the kids event at Caldera Springs hosted about 50 children when it started four years ago. For this year, organizers are expecting some 200 youngsters at the Saturday event, which is open to kids age 14 and younger and their parents.

Free Fishing Weekend is a small step toward a larger goal, but to those who care about the future of sport fishing in Oregon, it is a step in the right direction.

“If you look at the statistics on the decline in the number of hunting and fishing licenses sold in the last few decades, it’s kind of scary,” says Gary Gehlert, a volunteer with Sunriver Anglers. “The one way to rectify that is to expose kids to hunting and fishing and then they’ll want to do it, and become hunters and fishermen. I’ve heard a lot of kids (after the event) say, ‘Come on dad, you’ve got to buy me a fishing license now.’ You watch the kids with huge smiles on their faces catching their first fish.”

Obsidian Lake at Caldera Springs will be stocked for the event with rainbow trout from the Fall River Fish Hatchery, including several large broodstock rainbows.

Gehlert says the catch rate at the kids fishing event is about 80 to 85 percent. ODFW will provide all the rods, reels, tackle and bait kids need to catch a fish, as well as bags and ice so the young anglers can keep their fish fresh until they get home. Lunch will be provided by Sunriver Lodge.

“Every year at Caldera we’ve grown by 50 kids,” Gehlert says. “Last year we served 560 hot dogs.”

Another popular Free Fishing Weekend event in Central Oregon is the annual kids fishing clinic at Wizard Falls Hatchery on the Metolius River near Camp Sherman, scheduled for June 9 from 9 a.m. to noon. About 500 kids have attended the event each of the past few years, according to hatchery management.

The Wizard Falls clinic, in its 23rd year, includes stations on aquatic insects, fish biology, fly-tying and spin casting. Kids can fish at the hatchery’s settling pond for rainbow trout ranging in size from half a pound to 7 pounds. Rods and bait will be provided.

“They can fish out of the big pond and we’ll have a smaller pond with a bunch of little rainbow trout,” says Chris Boyd, interim manager at Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery.

Boyd says that so many kids typically attend the event that organizers have had to limit the number of fish each child can catch.

“They can catch one fish, whether they want to catch and keep it or catch and release it,” Boyd says. “They have to stop after they catch one. There’s going to be so many people here.”

ODFW officials note that while fishing licenses and tags are not required during Free Fishing Weekend, all other angling regulations apply, including bag limits and size restrictions.

Free Fishing Weekend

Kids fishing events in Central Oregon and beyond on Saturday, June 9:

Wizard Falls Hatchery near Camp Sherman: 9 a.m. to noon; for children age 10 and younger; call 541-595-6611.

Caldera Springs resort in Sunriver: 9 a.m. to noon; for children 14 and younger; contact Gary Gehlert at 541-593-6141.

Burns Gravel Pond; 7 a.m. to noon; contact Shannon Hurn at 541-573-3385.

Lake of the Woods; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; contact George Gregory at 541-821-2407.

Other upcoming ODFW family fishing events for age 17 and younger:

Saturday, June 2: Prineville Youth Pond, 9 a.m. to noon; contact Tim Porter at 541-447-5111.

Thursday, June 14: Shevlin Pond in Bend; 9 a.m. to noon; contact Jennifer Luke at 541-633-1113.

Saturday, June 16: Pine Nursery Pond in Bend; 9 a.m. to noon; contact Jennifer Luke at 541-633-1113.

• For more information, check ODFW’s website at www.dfw.state.or.us.